Day before the draft, I wonder how much of an impact today will have on where he goes. Since it's only his second career start, I think it could have a pretty big impact. For the Cubs' sake, I hope he's not too dominant.

KrisBryantisaBeast wrote:I doubt one game will have an impact on his or anyones draft status.

Normally, I'd agree of course, but this is a unique situation. Everyone's projecting him to do something without really seeing him do it, until today. An outing where he goes deep into the game while maintaining velo, all while having a cleaner delivery than Fulmer...does that push Jay ahead of Fulmer on the Sox's board (Law and McDaniel both said they have Fulmer higher)? Does it give the Rockies that extra nudge to take Jay even if Rodgers is available?

Shrug. He definitely could sign for less but it's been known for some time that he wants to be paid like the top 10 pick he was considered to be after his junior year. His demands are still $4 million (per Law and McDaniel) and he doesn't seem to have adjusted that down after his stock fell.

KrisBryantisaBeast wrote:I doubt one game will have an impact on his or anyones draft status.

Normally, I'd agree of course, but this is a unique situation. Everyone's projecting him to do something without really seeing him do it, until today. An outing where he goes deep into the game while maintaining velo, all while having a cleaner delivery than Fulmer...does that push Jay ahead of Fulmer on the Sox's board (Law and McDaniel both said they have Fulmer higher)? Does it give the Rockies that extra nudge to take Jay even if Rodgers is available?

Problem is no one of importance to a team's first round pick will be watching this game. The teams will be completing their draft board and draft strategies this weekend.

9. CubsCallis: OF Trenton Clark, Richland HS (North Richland Hills, Texas)The Cubs would strongly consider one of the big three college pitchers, but if they're all gone the decision likely comes down to Clark and Cincinnati outfielder Ian Happ.

Mayo: OF Ian Happ, CincinnatiWith the top arms coming off the board, the Cubs could turn their attention to available bats and it could come down to a choice of the college bat in Happ or a high school hitter like Trenton Clark.

I'm pretty much all for Benintendi or Happ at this point. And despite my hatred for pitchers, I'd be happy if Fulmer or Jay fell. I watched an interview of Happ talking about his approach to hitting and it was pretty much what Theo says verbatim about controlled aggression and getting on any way possible.

I'm pretty much all for Benintendi or Happ at this point. And despite my hatred for pitchers, I'd be happy if Fulmer or Jay fell. I watched an interview of Happ talking about his approach to hitting and it was pretty much what Theo says verbatim about controlled aggression and getting on any way possible. Would be more than happy if Tucker fell but that's a longshot.

Oy, Happ or Clark? A part of me feels like you can find a similar bat to Happ's later (Virginia's Joe McCarthy comes to mind, and he's probably a 2nd-3rd round pick due to injury). That said, Clark doesn't feel like he has such a huge ceiling to jump all over either, and all the LF talk blunts any excitement about his bat speed and hit tool. I'm fine with either, but I'd probably lean Happ with the idea of giving him a 2nd look at 2nd before moving him back to the OF ... but Tucker is still available on both their mocks, I still like Randolph a ton, and Whitley really is starting to sound fascinating.

CubsWin wrote:Also, with the rule change making 1st round picks tradeable after 5 months instead of 12, and with Aiken and Matuella out of commission for about another 5 months before they'd start throwing for real, the timeline seems set up nicely to trade for one of those guys. I have no idea what it would take or given the asking price if it'd be worth it, but the Cubs have a deep system and the timeline is uniquely fortuitous.

If the price is fair, it'd be quite the coup to get a guy at #9 who they like and will underslot allowing them to land one or two of the tough-to-sign arms in the middle rounds plus get Aiken or Matuella in a deal.

Seeing as there doesn't seem to be anything overly exciting likely to be there at #9, I was kind of sort of thinking in terms of taking Aiken there and hoping he'll sign for slot and then go overslot happy in the other rounds. It's not like it would be our biggest waste of a top 10 pick this decade.

CubsWin wrote:Also, with the rule change making 1st round picks tradeable after 5 months instead of 12, and with Aiken and Matuella out of commission for about another 5 months before they'd start throwing for real, the timeline seems set up nicely to trade for one of those guys. I have no idea what it would take or given the asking price if it'd be worth it, but the Cubs have a deep system and the timeline is uniquely fortuitous.

If the price is fair, it'd be quite the coup to get a guy at #9 who they like and will underslot allowing them to land one or two of the tough-to-sign arms in the middle rounds plus get Aiken or Matuella in a deal.

Seeing as there doesn't seem to be anything overly exciting likely to be there at #9, I was kind of sort of thinking in terms of taking Aiken there and hoping he'll sign for slot and then go overslot happy in the other rounds. It's not like it would be our biggest waste of a top 10 pick this decade.

If you're signing Aiken for slot, where are you going to get all this extra money for overslots later?